Sign



April 18 1933 Rl E. BARCLAY SIGN Filed Sept. 16, 1930 y H f, E MEAN 1inrit, E@ Q M EPEE m ein y bodiment of my invention,

Patented pr. 18, 1933 A UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE ROBERT` E. BARCLAY,0F CEICGQ- ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 FEDERAL ELECTRIC Y COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK SIGN ApplicatiOn led September 16,1930. Serial N0. 482,241.

and attractive display device such as, for instance, a sign Whereln theindicia or charac- A ters thereof are made in simulation of thecharacters of a gas-filled or so-called neon tube sign, and secure allof the lighting effects of such a sign, .but being much more economicalto manufacture and to operate.

Yet another object of my invention resides in the provision of a displaydevice such as a sign, wherein the indicia or characters thereof areformed substantially flat, but which when illuminated are given arounded eect in simulation of tube letter indicia or characters.

Yet another object of my invention resides in the provision of a sign ordisplay device in which the illumination, of the characters is done in amanner so as to create an optical illusion in that the characters, whenilluminated, alternately appear as fiat characters and then as roundedcharacters.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a perusalof the following specification, 'when takenin connection with theaccompanying drawlng, where- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofvoneemshown by Way of illustration and not by Way of limitation, as adisplay sign;

Figure 2 isa side View thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of one form of coating for thelettering or indicia of my display slgn;

Figure 4 is a reverse view of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a modiied form of the coating shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 of Figure 5 and Figure 7 is a diagram ofelectrical connections.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the sign which I have selectedas an embodiment of my invention comprises a support 2 of any desiredtype, and herein shown as a board or panel. This board is provided witha plurality of form of sheet metal friction clamps which are arranged todetachably support a panel 6, preferably formed of glass. This panel 6carries the indicia of the display which is to be illuminated,

In my improved sign the display 8 is herein shown as the letters COCAwhich are formed directly on the front face of the anel and are appliedthereto in the manner s own in Figure 1, wherein the letters 0f the wordare formed ,of a flat, relatively thin coating 10 of luminescentmaterial, either fluorescent material or phosphorescent material, andmay be of any selected color. Such materials are well known, and some ofthem are referred to in the companion case filed by me. This coating 10is translucent so light may pass therethrough so as to cause theillumination of the material.

In the adaptation of my invention to a display device of this character,I have found that the coating of luminescent material possesses twostriking functions in that the material is not only luminescent, wherebya source of light disposed at the rear thereof, as hereinafterdescribed, in passing through the coating will cause the illumination ofthe coating with increased brilliance, that is, the luminescent qualityof the coating will augment and boost-up the lighting effect from therays of light passing through the coating. In addition, due to certaininherent refractive and dispersive qualities of the coating, this lightpassing therethrough will be dispersed so as to cause the coating touniformly glow, and thus eliminate any streaks or eliminate thevisibility of the neon tube grid at the rear of the sign, as hereinafterex lained.

n connection with a display device of the foregoing construction, I havefound that by coating t e glass panel 6 .on its rear face with opaquematerial and omitting this opaque material at points opposite andregistering fastening members 4 in the sov with the letters or indicia 8coated on the front of the plate 6, I provide a suitable pathway forlight rays to pass through the plate and to illuminate these indicia 8.This 5 illumination from the rear of the glass panel 6 is economicallyaccomplished by means of a grid type of gas-filled luminous tube 16.Because of the refractive and luminescent ualities of the translucentcoating forming t e characters 8, the grid tube will provide sufficientdistribution of light at the rear of the plate 6, while at the same timecausing the effective and uniform illumination of the indicia 8throughout its entire extent l5 lWithout giving the so-calledobjectionable streaky illuminating eect present in other signs, due toan unequal distribution of light.

I have discovered that by omitting the opaque coating 14, immediatelybehind the character coatings 10 and 12, to form transarent openings ofless width than the coatings 10 and 12, when the light shines from thegrid 16 through this narrower transparent portion and thence through thecoatings 10 @5 and 12, the indicia on the front of the sign will begiven a sort of rounded effect. In Figures 4 and 6 of the drawing, thisarrangement is clearly shown; in Fi re 4, for instance, the edges 17 and18 of t e opaque por- ,30 tion 14 are shown as being somewhat narrowerthan the marginal edges 20 of the characters or indicia formed by thecoatings 10 and 12.

By rounded elect I mean when the light from the grid shines through andilluminates the characters on the front of the panel, the longitudinaledges of the characters will be slightly darkened, which will tend tomake them look round, somewhat after the' manner of a rounded gas-filledtube.

In order to provide a more striking sign, one which will attract themaximum of attention, I have found that b arranging a source of light atthe front o the sign, such for instance as the gas-filled tube 22, andby suitably connecting it in a circuit with the grid s-illed tubelighting source 16 and further y providing an automatic switchalternately to flash one lighting tube 22 and the other 16 in continuousrepetition, a very desirable effect is produced. For instance,when thefront tube 22 illuminates the letters, they stand out quite plainly asfiat letters, the light bein retracted by the luminescent coating andIieing also augmented and increased in intensity. When this lighting iscutoff and immediately the rear light 16 is flashed, the sameoverlapping arrangement of the marginal portions 17 and 18 makes themstand out as rounded, or as if they were formed as a luminous gas-filledtube.

Figure 7v shows a diagram of electrical connections for accomplishingthis alternate flashing. The diagram shows the lamps 16 and 2 2connected respectively to the second- 05 aries of suitable transformers24 and 23, the

primaries of which are connected to a suitable power source 25 throughthe disconnecting switch 26 and through the alternate flasher 27, whichpreferably comprises a wheel of conducting material 28 connected to thepower source through the brush contact 29 and to the transformers 23 and24 through the brushes 30 and 31, one half of the circular path ofContact made by the brushes 30 and 31 on the wheel, being insulated bythe strip 32 and the brushes being disposed on opposite sides of thepath of contact so as to create a power circuit alternately to thetransformer primaries. Obviously other circuit changing means may beemployed in place of the alternate iasher illustrated.

In some aspects of my invention the front light 22 may be used, or inother aspects the rear light may be used, and in still other aspectsboth lights may be used in repeated alternation as described.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing I have shown a slight modification ofmy sign, wherein I have formed the characters or indicia of the sign soas to include relatively small light-refracting elements, whichserve torefract and disperse the light rays which pass through the glass panel 6from the light source 16, or which strike directly from the front sourceof light 22 or from any other source of light. These small light-refracting elements have the same effect as the refractivecharacteristic ofthe luminescent coating in that they disperse the lightfrom one small element to another, thus keeping a suifused glow of theletter or indicia throughout its entire extent. This effect is even morepronounced when the light in front strikes the sign from the side, asfor instance by the source 22.

Many ways may be utilized for forming these small light-refractingelements, for instance, they may be formed directly in the body of theglass panel 6 or they may be formed separately and adhered to the frontof the glass panel 6 as a coating 12 by means of any suitable adherentsuch as the luminescent coating 10, or by a suitable translucentvarnish, or these light refracting elements may consist of line globulesof transparent varnish adhered thereto by the varnish or otherwise.

In the present embodiment of my invention they are formed as relativelysmall glass beads adhered to the glass panel 6 by means of theluminescent coating 10, which is of any desired color. In this mannerthe transparent glass beads enhance the color effect by theirlight-refractive characteristics. It must be a parent that instead ofusing glass beads to orm the light-refracting layer 12 I may use glasslprisms or any` other shape.

It will be apparent that a sign of the foregoing construction is quiteadvantageous because it enables the manufacture and sale and operation`of a very economical sign, which possesses all of the advantages andmore of the so-called neon sign which is formed of glass tubing,generally entailing complicated bends in the tubing and entailing theuse of paint-outs which are opaque painted portions of the tube toeliminate the presence of light at particular portions on a sign.

In my present invention the rounded simulation of the so-called neontube is secured by the overlapping marginal portions 17 and 18, so thatin operation the sign will stand out in vrounded effect. My improvedsign is very easily and quickly made, since it is only necessary toprovide the opaque rear portion of the sign with the transparentportions conforming to the indicia to be used on the front portion ofthe plate 6 and it is only necessary thereafter to coat the frontportion of the plate 6 with my translucent coating, registering with therear transparent portion, and to provide a source of light at the rear,and when the alternate lighting is preferred, to place the source oflight .at the front to secure the alternate flat and then roundedappearance of the sign characters.

In my present invention it will be apparent that I take advantage of oneof the characteristic features of my luminescent coating, and that is, Iplace the luminescent coating between a source of light and the eye ofthe observer, so that the source of light at the rear will not beapparent as a separate source of light, but will be apparent only in sofar as it illuminates the translucent, luminescent coating as a whole,causing the latter to glow uniformly with added brilliance.

This factor is of importance where the light employed in the sign isstroboscopic, that is to say, consists of rapidly alternating periodsvof illumination and darkness. Such alter-nations may occur so rapidlythat the eye cannot detect the periods of darkness because of thephenomenon known as persistence of vision. Nevertheless, signs employingstroboscopic light, such, for instance, as the ordinary tubulardischarge arc sign, are difllcult to ldecipher if the observer is movingpast the sign or if the sign is shifting with respect to the observer.Moreover, stroboscopic light has a fatigue-producing effect upon eyesexposed to the light for extended periods. In my 1present invention,however,

the visible portions of the sign, being formed of fluorescent material,which is excited to glow continuously, is substantially nonstroboscopiceven though it may be and preferably is illuminated by a source ofstroboscopic light and hence signs embodying my present invention, inaddition to imparting Y brilliant light effects through the lightrefractive'film, are also easy to read under all conditions'because thestroboscopic effects have been overcome.

Various constructions of this aspect of my invention may be utilized.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecu-re by Letters Patent is:

1. A display device comprising a support, translucent indicia mounted onsaid support,

and a source of light disposed behind said A characters so as to projectlight therethrough to illuminate the same, said'characlers being formedof relatively small light-refractive elements adhered to the support byluminescent material.

2. A display device comprising an opaque panel having transparentportions corresponding with predetermined indicia adapted to beilluminated, said portions being covered by a'coating of relativelysmall f light-dispersive eements and luminescent material.

3. A display device comprising an opaque panel having portions cut awayto correspond with predetermined indicia adapted to be illuminated, saidcut-away portions being covered by a coating of relatively smalllight-dispersive elements adhered thereto by translucent, luminescentmaterial.

4. A display device comprising a transparent panel having an opaquecoating on its back, said opaque coating being cut-away at predeterminedpoints, said panel at the front carrying a relatively flatl luminescentcoating of light-refracting material, said latter coating having itsedges projected laterally substantially beyond the edges of the cutawayportions of the opaque coa ing, and a light disposed at the rear of saidpanel to shine through said cut-away 'portions and said luminescentcoating to illuminate the same. l

5. A display device comprising an opaque panel having transparentportions forming indicia, said panel at the front carrying a relativelyflat coating of translucent, lightrefractive material, said lattercoating havingits longitudinal edges projected laterally beyond thelongitudinal edges of the transparent portions of the opaque panel, anda 'light disposed at the rear of said panel to shine through saidtransparent portions and said translucent coating to illuminate thesame, said coating being luminescent.

6. A display device comprising an opaque panel having transparentportions forming indicia, said panel at the front carrying a relativelyflat coating of translucent material, said coating having itslongitudinal edges projected laterally beyond the longitudinal edges ofthe transparent portions `of the opaque panel, and a light disposed atthe rear of saidpanel to shine through said transparent portions andsaid coating to illuminate the same, said coating including relativelysmall transparent light-refracting., elements.

7. A display sign comprising a supporting panel, a source of lightplaced at the rear thereof, indicia mounted on the front of said panel,and comprising a luminescent coating of light-refracting material, andmeans for confining the light so that in passing through said support itwill pass solely through the luminescent coating, said means beingconstructed and arranged so as to illuminate the central portions ofsaid coating more brilliantly than the marginal portions thereof.

8. A display device comprising a glass support carrying an opaquecoating on its rear, said opaque coating being omitted at predeterminedpoints, indicia mounted on the front of said plate, said indiciacomprising a relatively fiat, translucent coating of light-refracingmaterial overlying said omitted portions on the rear of the panel, themarginal edges of said front coating overlapping the marginal edges ofsaid omitted portions on the rear of the panel, whereby rays of a sourceof light disposed at the rear of the panel will pass through saidomitted portions of the opaque coating, so as to illuminate thetranslucent coating on the front of said light in a manner to cause saidfront coating to appear in simulaion of rounded characters.

9. A display device comprising a glass support carrying an opaquecoating on its rear, said opaque coating being omitted at predeterminedpoints, indicia mounted on the front of said plate, said indiciacompris- V ing a relatively flat, translucent, luminescent coating ofmaterial overlying said omitted portions on the rear of the panel, themarginal edges of said front coating overlapping the marginal edges ofsaid omitted portions on the rear of the panel, whereby rays of a sourceof light disposed at the rear of the panel will pass through saidomitted portions of the opaque coating, and will illuminate theluminescent coating on the front of said light, so as to cause saidfront coating to appear in simulation of rounded characters, there beinga source of light disposed at the front of the panel directly toilluminate the front indicia.

10. A display device comprising a. glass on the rear of said panel toprovide a source of light, and display indicia mounted on the front ofsaid panel, comprising a relatively iat coating of luminescent materialand minute light refractive elements, said fiat coating registering withthe transparent portions on the rear of said panel and overlyingmarginal edges of said omitted portions of the opaque coating on therear of the panel, and means mounted on the front of the-panel toilluminate directly the front indicia, said front and rear sources oflight being constructed and arranged to be flashed repeatedly inalternation, whereby rst to directly illuminate the front indicia,whereby to cause the direct illumination of the front indicia andalternately to cause the rear source of light to illuminate the frontindicia.

11. A display device comprising a support, luminescent indicia mountedon said` support, means for passing rays of light from a point behindsaid support and throughA said panel andvcomprising a relatively fiatcoating of luminescent material and minute light-refracting elements,said flat coating registering with and overlying the edges of saidtransparent portion.

13. A display device comprising a plate, a translucent layer formed onsaid plate and an electrical discharge arc illuminating device disposedbehind the translucent layer in position to illuminate the same withstroboscopic light, said layer comprising luminescent light refractingparticles.

14. A display device comprising luminescent light refracting meansforming display characters and means to illuminate the luminescent lightrefracting means with stroboscopic light.

15. A display device comprising a transparent panel having luminescentlight refi'acting layer on its forward surface and means disposed behindthe panel to illuminate with stroboscopic light said luminescent lightrefracting layer through the transparent panel.

16. A display device comprising a transparent panel havinga. luminescentlight refracting layer on its forward surface and means disposed behindthepanel to illuminate with stroboscopic light said luminescent lightrefracting layer through the transparent panel, said panel having anopaque coating on its rearward surface, said opaque coating being cutaway behind the luminescent light refracting layer.

17. In combination, a transparent panel, an opaque layer on the back ofthe panel, said layer being cut away at predetermined points, aluminescent light refracting layer on the front of the panel oppositesaid cut away portions and a discharge arc illuminating device mountedbehind the panel to ,transparent portions and means excite theluminescent light refracting layer through the cut away portions of theopaque layer and the transparent portions pf the panel uncovered at theout away por- 1ons.

18. A display device comprising a plate of p transparent material,translucent means comprising luminescent light refractive coatingsforming characters on said plate, and a source of'stroboscopic lightdisposed behind said plate in position to 'project light therethrough toilluminate the characters.

19. A display device comprising a panel, luminescent light refractingmeans for displaying characters on said panel and means to illuminatethe luminescent light refracting means with stroboscopic light.

20. A display device comprising an opaque panel having transparentportions forming characters for display, luminescent light refractingmeans mounted on said panel opposite the transparent portions thereofand means to illuminate the luminescent light retracting means withstroboscopic light.

21. A display device comprising a .panel comprising a transparent `platehaving an opaque film, said film being cut away to form characters fordisplay, luminescent light refracting means on said plate opposite saidcut away portions and means to illuminatethe luminescent lightref-racting means wit stroboscopic light.

22. A display device comprising an opaque p panel having transparentportlons corresponding with characters to be displayed, luminescentlight refracting means on said panel opposite the transparent portionsand means disposed behind the panel to illuminate, with stroboscopiclight, the light'refracting means through the transparent portions ofthe panel.

23. A display device comprising a panel, luminescent light refractingmeans forming display characters and'means to illuminate the luminescentlight refracting means with stroboscopic light from in front of thepanel.

24. A display device comprising an opaque panel having transparentportions forming characters for display, luminescentlight refractingmeans on the panel opposite said to illuminate the luminescent lightrefracting means with stroboscopic light from in front of the panel.

25. A display device comprising a transparent panel having an opaquecoating, said coating being cut away to'form characters for display,luminescent light refracting means on the panel opposite said cut awayportions 5 coating'being cut away to form characters fordisplay,'luminescent light refracting means on the panel op osite saidcut away portions of the opaque and means to illuminate the luminescentlight refracting means alternatively from in front and in rear of theanel with stroboscopic light.

27. A display device comprising an opaque panel having transparentportions forming characters for display, luminescent light refractingmeans on the panel opposite said transparent portions, illuminatingmeans in front of the panel to illuminate the light refracting means,additional illuminating means behind the panel for illuminatingthe lightrefracting means, at least one of said illuminating means comprising asource of stroboscopic light.

28. A display device comprising an opaque panel having transparentportions corresponding with indicia for display, luminescent lightrefractive means on said panel opposite the transparent portionsthereof, means mounted in front of the panel to illuminate the lightrefractive means directly, means mounted at the rear of the panel toilluminate the light refractive means through the transparent portionsof the panel and means to flash the illuminating means alterfractivemeans is alternatively directly ilh luminated from in front of the paneland indirectly illuminated from the rear of the anel.

29. A display device comprising a panel having transparent portions,luminescent light refracting means forming display characters oppositethe 4transparent portions 1n the panel and means to alternativelyilluminate the luminescent light reracting means directly from in frontof the panel and indirectly through the transparent portions of thepanel from the rear thereof.

30. A display device comprising an opaque panel having transparentportions forming indicia, said panel, at the front, carrying arelatively at coating of translucent material, said coating having itslongitudinal edges projected laterally beyond the longitudinal edges ofthe transparent portions of the opaque panel, and a source ofstroboscopic light disposed at the rear of said panel to shine throughsaid transparent portions to illuminate the coating of translucentmaterial, said coating including relatively small transparent lightrefracting elements.

31. A display device comprising a transparent panel having an opaquecoating on its back, said opaquev coating being omitted at predeterminedpoints to form transparent indicia, said panel at the front carrying arelatively flat coating ofv translucentmaterial, said latter coatinghaving its longitudinal edges projected laterally beyond thelongitudinal edges of the cut-away portions of the opaque coating, andmeans providing a source of stroboscopic light disposed at the rear ofsaid panel to shine through said cutf away portions and said transparentcoating to illuminate the same, said transparent coating includingrelatively small transparent light-refracting elements.

,32. A display device including a panel comprising a transparent plateaving an opaque film cut away to provide openings corresponding withindicia for display, a coating ofrelatively small light refractiveelements and luminescent material on the panel opposite said openings inposition to be illuminated through said openings.

33. A display device comprising luminescent light refracting meansforming display characters and means to illuminate the luminescent lightrefracting means.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBERT E. BARCLAY.

